A STRANGE DAY

Yeltz 4 Rocester 0

11 September 2001

I feel a little bit strange writing about football after the events in the USA today. Anyway, a very good win for the mighty Yeltz added to the strangeness of the day. Goals from Les, OG, Rossco and a late one from Giddings led to a fourth win on the trot. We're now 2nd in the table , just two points behind leaders Solihull Borough.

Saturday brings another FA Cup tie, this time a First Qualifying Round game against Staveley Miners Welfare.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, R. Collins (Skidmore 82), Spencer, G. Smith (Jones 72), May (Giddings 72), Taylor, Hines

Rocester: Edensor; Myatt, Fisher, Walker, P. Ede, Anthony, Bourne (Stark 82), Somerville, Dematteo, Hook, Owen. Subs: Skelton, M. Smith

Referee: A. Hendley (Cradley Heath) Attendance: 353 Booked: None

The lights went on over the Grove when Halesowen tested their new superb £65,000 floodlights after the 4-0 win over Rocester to move into a top three spot in the league table.

In a surprisingly fast and furious first half, Rocester's Andy Bourne hit a fierce first minute shot which Tim Clarke turned away for a corner. Les Hines, who raced up and down the left wing tirelessly all night, then hit a cross over to Leroy May a minute later and Andy Spencer's 14th minute cross was cleared for a corner from Jason Burnham's long ball out of defence. Rocester played their part in a first half of open, flowing football and almost took a 26th minute lead when Rob Myatt's cross was headed down by Andy Bourne, but the ball just escaped Russell Dematteo in front of goal.

Halesowen went ahead and took control of the game in the 44th minute when Ross Collins was fouled on the edge of the area and Les Hines struck a sweet free-kick directly into the top corner. Three minutes after the break Nick Anthony lobbed an own goal past his own goalkeeper under pressure from Leroy May for Halesowen's second.

With Rocester's spirit broken, Halesowen created a host of second half chances. May's 55th minute shot was tipped away for a corner and May then latched onto Neil Smith's long ball in the 66th minute but steered his shot just wide. Ross Collins headed Halesowen's third goal in the 71st minute by bundling the ball over the line from another Hines corner, with Andy Spencer was on hand to crash the ball further into the net.

Halesowen scored a tremendous fourth goal in the 84th minute when Andy Jones raced down the left and sent a pinpoint cross for fellow substitute Kerry Giddings to rush in and head home. Rocester substitute Mick Stark was denied a consolation a minute later when his shot struck the post.